Ultrasound imaging of quadriceps muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis: The test-retest and inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity of echo intensity measurement

Background and Objectives: Ultrasound echo intensity (EI) of the lumbar multifidus muscle (LMM) could offer valuable insights regarding muscle quality in people with low back pain (LBP). However, whether the rater’s experience noticeably influences the reliability and precision of LMM EI measurements has not been established. The aims of this study were to investigate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of LMM EI measurements, and to compare the reliability and SEM between a novice and an experienced rater. Materials and Methods: Twenty athletes (10 females, 10 males) with a history of LBP were included in this study. Transverse ultrasound images of LMM were taken at L5 in prone. LMM EI measurements were obtained bilaterally by tracing the maximum ROI representing the LMM cross-sectional area (CSA), avoiding the inclusion of bone or surrounding fascia. All measurements were performed by two novice raters and an experienced researcher. Each measurement was acquired by each rater three times for each side on three different images, and the average was used in the analyses. Raters were blinded to each other’s measurements and the participant’s clinical information. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were obtained to assess the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. Results: The intra-rater ICC values for the LMM measurements for the experienced rater were excellent (ICC all > 0.997). The inter-rater reliability ICC values showed moderate to excellent reliability (0.614 to 0.994) and agreement between the novice raters and the experienced rater, except for Novice 1 for the right LMM, which revealed lower ICCs and a wider 95% CI. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability results were similar when separately looking at the right and left side of the muscle and participant gender. Conclusions: Our findings support the clinical use of ultrasound imaging for the assessment of LMM EI in individuals with LBP.

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Ultrasound Imaging Evaluation of Textural Features in Athletes with Soleus Pathology—A Novel Case-Control Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041983 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1983 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Blanca De-la-Cruz-Torres ◽

Emmanuel Navarro-Flores ◽

Daniel López-López ◽

Carlos Romero-Morales

Keyword(s):

Ultrasound Imaging ◽

Soleus Muscle ◽

Muscle Injury ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Tendon Injury ◽

Muscle Injuries ◽

Imaging Evaluation ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Group A

Background: the aim of this study was to compare the echotexture of patients with soleus muscle injury and age matched controls. Methods: a sample of 62 athletes was recruited at the private clinic and was divided in two group: a healthy group (n = 31) and a soleus pathology group whose athletes had soleus muscle injury, located in the central tendon (n = 31). The muscle thickness (MTh), echointensity (EI) and echovariation (EV) were analyzed. An intra-rater reliability test (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient-ICC) was performed in order to analyze the reliability of the values of the measurements. Results: Sociodemographic variables did not show statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). Ultrasound imaging measurements who reported statistically significant differences were EI (p = 0.001) and standard deviation (SD) (p = 0.001). MTh and EV variables did not show statistically significant differences (p = 0.381 and p = 0.364, respectively). Moreover, reliability values for the MTh (ICC = 0.911), EI (ICC = 0.982), SD (ICC = 0.955) and EV (ICC = 0.963). Based on these results the intra-rater reliability was considered excellent. Conclusion: Athletes with a central tendon injury of soleus muscle showed a lower EI when they were compared to healthy athletes. The echogenicity showed by the quantitative ultrasound imaging measurement may be a more objective parameter for the diagnosis and follow-up the soleus muscle injuries.

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Quadriceps muscle strength and its relationship to radiographic knee osteoarthritis in Japanese elderly

Journal of Orthopaedic Science ◽

10.1007/s00776-013-0383-4 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 536-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Go Omori ◽

Yoshio Koga ◽

Hiroshi Watanabe ◽

Masaei Tanaka ◽

Atsushi Nawata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Quadriceps Muscle ◽

Quadriceps Muscle Strength ◽

Japanese Elderly ◽

Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis

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Effect of retro and forward walking on quadriceps muscle strength, pain, function, and mobility in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-016-1021-z ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ahmad Alghadir ◽

Shahnawaz Anwer

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Quadriceps Muscle ◽

Quadriceps Muscle Strength ◽

Randomized Controlled

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Ultrasound imaging of the quadriceps muscle in elderly athletes and untrained men

Muscle & Nerve ◽

10.1002/mus.880140607 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 527-533 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Sarianna Sipila ◽

Harri Suominen

Keyword(s):

Ultrasound Imaging ◽

Quadriceps Muscle ◽

Elderly Athletes

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Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Counseling Competencies Scale-Revised

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.688539 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Wei Xia ◽

William Ho Cheung Li ◽

Tingna Liang ◽

Yuanhui Luo ◽

Laurie Long Kwan Ho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Concurrent Validity ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Psychometric Evaluation ◽

Counseling Competencies ◽

Counselors In Training ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Test Retest Reliability

Objectives: This study conducted a linguistic and psychometric evaluation of the Chinese Counseling Competencies Scale-Revised (CCS-R).Methods: The Chinese CCS-R was created from the original English version using a standard forward-backward translation process. The psychometric properties of the Chinese CCS-R were examined in a cohort of 208 counselors-in-training by two independent raters. Fifty-three counselors-in-training were asked to undergo another counseling performance evaluation for the test-retest. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted for the Chinese CCS-R, followed by internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, convergent validity, and concurrent validity.Results: The results of the CFA supported the factorial validity of the Chinese CCS-R, with adequate construct replicability. The scale had a McDonald's omega of 0.876, and intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.63 and 0.90 for test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability, respectively. Significantly positive correlations were observed between the Chinese CCS-R score and scores of performance checklist (Pearson's γ = 0.781), indicating a large convergent validity, and knowledge on drug abuse (Pearson's γ = 0.833), indicating a moderate concurrent validity.Conclusion: The results support that the Chinese CCS-R is a valid and reliable measure of the counseling competencies.Practice implication: The CCS-R provides trainers with a reliable tool to evaluate counseling students' competencies and to facilitate discussions with trainees about their areas for growth.

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